Rare birds flock to island after power lines run underground

SIGHTINGS of two protected bird species have soared on an Essex island after overhead power lines were buried underground.

More than 3,800 dunlins, a small wader, were recorded on Northey Island in January, the largest number ever and a 10 per cent increase on the previous record.

A team from the National Trust also recorded sightings of 1,700 dark-bellied brent geese, the highest number since 2016.

Dunlins are red-listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern, while dark-bellied brent geese are amber.

Their numbers rose after the island’s overhead power lines were re-routed underground and telegraph poles removed as part of a project to realign the coast to create about 60 hectares of new, healthy saltmarsh habitat.

Both species overwinter on the island while on their migratory route from northern Scandinavia and Russia.

David Mason, the ranger for the National Trust at Northey Island, said: “The increase in numbers is likely due to the re-routing of overhead power lines underground and the removal of

poles. It has opened up a large section of the island and created improved landing areas for the birds for feeding and resting during their annual migrations.

“Prior to this project, the geese avoided the entirety of one field containing power lines as well as the majority of a second, and now that they have been removed the geese have been using all the fields on the island along with the saltmarsh areas.”

Northey Island, in the Blackwater estuary, is a haven for wildlife thanks to its quiet location and biodiversity. But the saltmarsh, the single largest block in the estuary, has been steadily shrinking because of the rising sea levels, putting the wildlife habitat at risk.

New and regenerated saltmarsh is now being created in the realignment project led by the National Trust and the RSPB, which will use dredged sediment and reprofile embankments to protect the landscape.

The trust said the work also appeared to have boosted numbers of other bird species, including curlews, avocets and lapwings, all of which are also at risk of decline.

“A number of the telegraph poles will remain on the island, cut to a low level and with nesting boxes placed on top, which will provide a safe place for birds like oystercatchers to nest away from ground predators,” said Mr Mason.